There is yet another motorcycle accident fatality to report on. On Sunday night, Christian Baizar was riding his motorbike on the Philip Goldson Highway when he was allegedly rear-ended by Ford Explorer. At the time, Gustavo Cardinez was the driver of the Explorer. Unfortunately, Baizar succumbed to the injuries he sustained. ACP Hilberto Romero told us more.
ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division “On Sunday the sixth day of 2024 around eight p.m., police responded to a fatal road traffic accident on the Phillip Goldson Highway. Upon their arrival they saw a motorcycle with damages and a Ford Explorer with damages as well. The driver was identified as Gustavo Cardinez and the person driving the motroycle was identified as Christian Baizar. Christian Baizar was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. An investigation was carried out and Gustavo Cardinez is custody pending charges reference this fatal road traffic accident. The information is that the pickup hit the motorcycle from behind causing this fatal injury to Baizar.”
Tonight, heartbreak strikes yet another family as they mourn the loss of their loved one in a tragic road traffic accident over the weekend. On Sunday, around eleven p.m., thirty-year-old Nicky Waight was on his motorcycle heading towards the San Ignacio Police Station when he suddenly lost control and crashed near the Low-lying Bridge, resulting in fatal injuries. This devastating incident adds to a series of deadly accidents this month, underscoring the urgent need for improved road safety measures. News Five’s Britney Gordon brings us the story.
Britney Gordon, reporting
Tragically, Belize has lost another life to a road traffic accident. This month alone, it feels like we’ve been reporting on such heartbreaking incidents every week. These aren’t just statistics; they represent real people whose lives have been cut short. The latest victim is thirty-year-old Nicky Waight, a dedicated police officer from the Cayo district. Nicky was on his way to the San Ignacio Police Station when he tragically lost control of his motorcycle and crashed. His mother, Everett Waight, shared with us that Nicky was a hardworking family man, deeply committed to his loved ones and his duty.
Everett Waight
Everett Waight, Mother of the Deceased
“Well he was a person that worked. He is in the department for ten years. He used to live in Belmopan and he used to come here every day come visit me and then because he has a child, eight-year-old, he used to come and stay with her a little while and help out with her homework and then take her house in Santa Familia.”
Everett reminded her son every day to be careful on the road, but that night she did not.
Everett Waight
“Four o’clock he had shift. Every day he had shift four o’clock till twelve. Then he used to come and say bye mom and I tell him bye hijo, take care. Every day I used to tell him take care but unfortunately Sunday night. I didn’t know my son was going to go that Sunday night.”
Nicky had been an officer in the force for over ten years and traveled that route for the past three, without any major incidents.
Everett Waight
“From he married to his wife. About three years he is traveling from San Ignacio to Belmopan.”
Britney Gordon
“So for three years now, it has been the norm for him to go up and down on these roads. Ans this incident is completely out of the norm for him.”
Everett Waight
“Yes.”
Another person was injured during the incident. Jessica Escobar, who was also traveling on a motorcycle, collided with Waight’s fallen cycle after his initial accident. According to police, she is in a stable condition.
“On Sunday police responded to a fatal road traffic accident in Santa Elena at the Low-Lying Bridge. Upon arrival, police two motorcycles on the bridge and the lifeless body of Nicky Waight, The thirty-years Belizean police officer was seen. Also Jessica Escobar with injuries to her arm and shoulder. Investigation revealed that the was driving a motorcycle. He was on duty at the time. He lost control of his motorcycle, so when he fell on the motorcycle, the other female was coming across the bridge and hit the motorcycle and she received injuries.”
The alarming rise in fatal accidents, especially those involving motorcycles, has caught the attention of the Belize Police Department. Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, noted that while the department has ramped up checkpoints along the highways, their efforts alone can’t guarantee driver safety. He emphasized the importance of motorists taking proactive steps to protect themselves, offering several key safety tips.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I’d liked to say to motorcycle riders, not just because you’re entitled to have a road. You must ride at the middle of the road. Some of them, they ride smack middle of the road. Almost on that yellow line. To the middle of your side of the room would make more sense. Remember, they receive, they know. And bear in mind that we do have drivers who have, who has no regards to motorcycle riders, which should not be.”
The Waight family is still grappling with the reality of Nicky’s death. Everett says that everyone that ever came across her son would describe him as a good man, who took pride in serving his community. And that memory is timeless.
Everett Waight
“He was always a person that liked to help. If you need help, he don’t care who is the person, he will help you. And he was a happy person. He was a friendly person. He was a person that likes to run joke. So I never had a dull moment with him.”
A motorcycle accident on Sunday night left a police officer dead. The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Police Constable Nikki Waight from Belmopan City. 23-year-old Jessica Abigail Escobar was injured.
The crash happened on the wooden bridge connecting San Ignacio and Santa Elena. Investigations revealed that Jessica Escobar was riding a black Lifan motorcycle from San Ignacio to Santa Elena, while Waight was on a blue Lifan 200 motorcycle travelling in the opposite direction. Upon reaching the wooden bridge that connects San Ignacio and Santa Elena, Waight’s motorcycle reportedly slipped off the edge of the wooden boards, causing him to lose control and crash. Escobar was unable to stop in time and collided with the officer’s motorcycle. She was injured on her left arm.
Waight succumbed to his injuries. Escobar was taken to the San Ignacio Community Hospital for treatment.
Tonight, two brothers are in the hospital after back-to-back road traffic accidents on Sunday. Eighteen-year-old Francis Mejia and fifteen-year-old Malachi Mejia, residents of Santana Village in Belize District, are the latest victims of road traffic accidents this month. The first incident occurred around ten a.m. while Francis and his friend, Carlos Garcia, were traveling on Altun Ha road when Francis collided with a vehicle and lost control of his motorbike. Shortly after, Francis’s brother, Malachi arrived on the scene to assist and while returning home to inform his parents, collided with a van. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
On the morning of his eighteenth birthday, Francis Mejia’s life was forever changed when he was involved in a road traffic accident that resulted in the amputation of one of his limbs. Around ten a.m., Mejia and his friend, Carlos Garcia were travelling on a motorcycle down Altun Ha road when he collided into the tail end of a vehicle turning onto another road. Mejia lost control of the cycle and veered off the path, crashing into a nearby house. The intensity of the impact left Mejia’s leg in a gruesome state and left Garcia with several broken bones. After hearing about the incident, Francis’ younger brother Malachi, rushed to the scene. It was during his race to get back home that the younger man collided with an approaching van. Their mother, Melonie Mejia, recounts the event.
Melonie Mejia
Melonie Mejia, Mother of Victims
“Both of them are injured. One of them lost their foot and the next one has a broken leg. Well, the next one, his left leg is broken and his wrist is broken on his left hand, and Francis is the one that took catching an accident first while the other one knee by the name of Malachi. He went on a cycle and look for his other brother, but I never know when he left because when my ma holler at me, I have my husband nephew in my hand. Then the next lady come and ask me. She said, please come ya miss please come ya, I figured more or less something done wrong already, right? And I said I can’t take it no more, I can’t take it no more. I just bawl out.”
The incidents occurred within such a short period that Mejia was hardly able to process the events. One of her sons lost his leg on his birthday while the other is unconscious in the days leading up to his birthday.
Melonie Mejia
“While I was driving down to Sandhill to catch a ride, So I call my husband, I tell him, I tell him, I told Francis ketch in an accident. He said, well the ambulance come for he. Alright, then I call him, I tell him that the next one ketch an accident, so we have to end up turning back. So, that, that when I end up in the hospital, Malachi was unconscious.”
Britney Gordon
“I understand that it was Francis’s birthday.”
Melonie Mejia
“Yesterday was his birthday, and the next one is next two weeks from now.”
Melonie sympathizes with her son Francis, who after enduring a traumatic event, awoke to the news that his leg had been amputated.
Melonie Mejia
“All I know that. When he conscious this morning that when he know that his foot is cut off, but they couldn’t save it. They can’t do nothing better.”
Britney Gordon
“Your son, Malachi, went to the scene to see his brother in the accident and from what I’ve heard, he went back home to get you, to tell you this news.”
Melonie Mejia
“Actually, he don’t know weh I mi deh. So I guess that’s why it must happen that way.”
Britney Gordon
“And now both of them are, receiving medical attention. But are they in stable conditions?”
Melonie Mejia
“Both of them can’t move right now.”
She says the family is accepting any donations to fund her sons’ medical assistance or assist in their recovery, whether it be monetary or through the donation of a wheelchair or crutches.
Melonie Mejia
“My number is six-zero-seven-seven-three-nine-seven. The other one is six-two-nine-six-three-two-one. The next one is six-ten-zero-three-nine-five.”
The Independence Day weekend was punctuated by road traffic accidents. In Hopkins Village, the access road saw the second deadly road mishap in as many weeks. This time, the victim was not a resident of the village. Twenty-nine-year-old Christian Chuc lost his life when a vehicle knocked him down near the entrance to the village. The driver did not stop to render assistance to him. From what it appears, Chuc was about a mile into the road on his way to Hopkins Village and might have been knocked down from behind. He was left on the pavement bleeding profusely from the head, while the mangled motorcycle he was driving lay several feet away from him. This mishap took place less than a mile from the location where a previous road traffic accident claimed the life of nineteen-year-old Amaad Arana. The police are yet to share details of this accident with the media.
A road traffic accident claimed the life of man in Unitedville. Reports are that Miguel Maldonado was driving a motorcycle when it collided into a Toyota Corolla. Maldonado was flung from the motorbike and received fatal injuries. A.C.P Hilberto Romero tells us more.
“On Friday the twentieth of September, at around seven forty-five p.m. there was a fatal road traffic accident at Unitedville, police visited the area where they saw a Toyota Corolla and a motorcycle extensively damaged. The information is that the driver of the motorcycle was one Miguel Maldonado. He was taken to the hospital and succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the Toyota Corolla was Donovan Tzib. Urine samples were taken, NIP served, and an investigation is being carried out at this time. The pickup hit the motorcycle causing Maldonado to receive injuries.”
Reports of fatal road traffic accidents have increased over the last several weeks. Among those reports is a spike in fatal motorcycle accidents. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams says motorcycles continue to be an issue for traffic enforcement, including police officers. He says the department is looking at the amendment of certain legislation to better regulate motorcyclists.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I really and truly don’t know. What else can the police and the Department of Transport do? We would have to have police at every milepost, or traffic officers at every milepost. Because as much as we do enforcements putting in place checkpoints and highway patrols, when the drivers approach a checkpoint, they slow down. And the minute they’re out of sight of that checkpoint, then their usual bad driving habit. We find that many of these accidents are as a result of drivers not paying attention, driving without you paying attention. Motorcycle continues to be an issue. How we address that I think that we have been able to do a number of sensitizations, even creating flyers on safety tips on these motorcycles. Even that is not helping. It certainly will require that drivers of motor vehicles and riders of motorcycles take more responsibility in ensuring that they exercise more caution in the driving of motor vehicles and the handling of motorcycles. Motorcycle riders at time tend to operate in such a way that they don’t, the rules of the road don’t apply to them. They have a separate rule that apply to them, which is not the case. And in some instances, the drivers of motor vehicle have no regards for motorcycle riders. So it’s a dual issue that we have to look at to see how we can address it. But it certainly raises a serious question if we look at the amount of traffic fatalities we have had this year. It’s a lot. for a small country. And so we need to see what else we can do. We continue to be in dialogue with the Department of Transport. We’re looking at the amendment of some laws to be able to regulate more particularly motorcycle riders. And once those laws are amended, then we see how it goes from there.”
A fatal road traffic accident has claimed the life of yet another Belizean. Over the weekend, sixty-four-year-old Melva Myers was travelling with her three grandchildren on the George Price Highway. Behind the steering wheel was her daughter, Tiffany Licona, who was headed toward Belize City. Reports are that after overtaking a pickup truck around mile fourteen, Licona lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a fence on the other side of the road. Licona and the three minors escaped grave injuries, Myers, however, succumbed to her injuries on the scene. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with more details.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
The death toll from fatal road traffic accidents across the country continues to climb at a staggering rate. On Saturday around seven-thirty a.m., sixty-four-year-old Melva Myers was being driven to the Philip Goldson International Airport by her daughter, Tiffany Licona. Along with them were Myers’ grandchildren, ages eleven, nine, and five years old when Licona reportedly lost control of the vehicle around mile fourteen. From all indications, Myers who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, was flung from the vehicle, and suffered severe head and body injuries. She was scheduled to fly to the U.S. for an annual medical checkup. Selvyn Myers tells us that he began to feel uneasy when his mother failed to answer his calls that morning.
Selvyn Myers
Selvyn Myers, Son of Deceased
“This all started when I was at work. I was at the the booth by Belcan. And I left the night before and I kissed her on the forehead and I said I love you momma and she said I love you more son. I seh I wa hike from Belama tomorrow when I come off work. I wahike fi see you ketch the iron bird. But in the morning, I neva call and ask nothing. I she I noh wa go that airport to early because from Belama to the airport very short. Soh I seh I ih deh call ah and see how far ih deh so I could make my way there because I ony need half an hour the most. So I call her phone and I get no response. So I call my sister phone, I get no response either. Then I felt so funny, I felt so bad. I had to sit down. And Ieven had to pray much harder.”
After another attempt to reach his family, Myers’ niece answered the phone and informed him that they had been in an accident. He rushed to the scene in cab and was met with the grisly sight of his mother laying on the ground motionless.
Selvyn Meyres
“I di tell taximan go as fast as you could sir please. Just drive as fast as you could because I noh want my ma inna sun hot di tek lick cuz I no know how badly ih get hurt. When I reach, I see my sister sitting down and she was band upp on the left side. I then I get a glimpse pf my mom laying by the vehicle by the fense. And I run there and I try to do chest compression or cpr. I pray for a pulse or something. I tap her foot bottom and somebody she your momma died already breda. I saw that they had like a lee sweater thing over my momma face and I lift it up and see like froth from her mouth. And I just start to cry and cry because. I should have meet her at the airport.”
The family was transported to the KHMH where Melva was pronounced dead on arrival. Licona sustained injuries to the left side of her body and underwent surgery today. The three minors were not seriously injured. According to her son, Myers was blind in one eye and losing vision in the other, often requiring assistance to get in an out of vehicles.
Selvyn Meyres
“When I am at home and my mom would get in any vehicle, I would gi and fix the seatbelt for her personally. I will even escort her to the vehicle to se that nih fall because she is totally blind in one eye. She has a small percentage in the other but she beleice that she could do everything alone but I noh trust it. I tell ah I noh want you fall momma so I hold her hand and I will take her all the way from here to the vehicle there. And if she go out late, I wa plug out the light and plugh it in right by the corner there so she could see and even go meet ah. And put on her seatbelt. The way I see it, my momma was thrown from the vehicle. You understand?”
More heart wrenching for Myers was the way in which his mother died. For as long as he could recall, his mother had been terrified of traffic accidents.
Selvyn Meyres
“What even pain me more because my momma, she fear the road really bad. She noh like hear about accident/ That da how soft she soft. I tell she about some traffic accident ah when I gi pan the scene and because I have twenty-three years inna the police department also and I go pan some real tragic scene. She woulda she noh tell mi bout it son. I ketch coldseed. So ewhen I saw yer out there like that just make my heart just drop because I she the same thing that my poor momma fear. That’s the thing that took he life.”
Myers says that his mom was the most outstanding person he ever knew. He recalls times when she would go out of her way to assist the less fortunate; such as a family in need of a wheelchair for a young daughter.
Selvyn Meyres
“My mom said I know a lady who have a wheelchair to give away son. I will talk toi the lady and I will take the wheelchair to the little girl momma. I sah mein my momma not even hundred percent healthy like that. But I neva get bex. I see ah up and odwn, up and down dig try with this wheelchair. But I can tell you , my momma was and is and will always be the best. Who want tell you the truth about my momma could tell you that Melva Elizabeth Myeres was a wonderful human poan the face of this earth.”
A man lost his life in a fatal motorcycle accident in Hopkins Village on Saturday night. Nineteen-year-old Amaad Arana was almost at his destination at a nightspot on the Hopkins access road when he was knocked down and killed. Sadly, one of Arana’s brothers who was at the nightclub witnessed the incident and never knew that it was his brother until he ran out to render aid. Meanwhile, chairman of Hopkins Macario Augustine is calling for speed bumps to be placed along the stretch of road. News Five’s Marion Ali visited Hopkins Village and filed this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
This is where the motorcycle that nineteen-year-old Amaad Arana was riding ended up after it was struck from behind by a vehicle. The driver of the mid-size SUV attempted to overtake him as he turned into this entrance to the Uno Service Station near Savannah View Restaurant. This is also where he was heading for a night of socializing.
Raheem Casimiro
Raheem Casimiro, Brother of Amaad Arana
“He told me he was coming to Savannah right here at the night club. That’s the last text I got from him. Me and my other brethren were sitting right there at the top. We saw everything. My brethren told me “watch this” before it even happened. By the time I could sit down, all yoh hear da jus wa bang.”
Raheem Casimiro was already at the establishment and witnessed the accident from the deck where he was seated. He did not know that it was his brother who was knocked down.
Raheem Casimiro
“We reach down ya, not knowing it was Amaad, not knowing he was under the vehicle. We rolled back the vehicle and I looked at him and when I saw his face, I went under the vehicle for him and picked him up, me and my other brethren. I told him to stay with me, stay with me but I know he was already gone.”
Macario Augustine, chairman of Hopkins Village, told News Five that Arana was a popular athlete in the community.
Macario Augustine
Macario Augustine, Chairman, Hopkins Village
“We took a team to Belize City. I think a couple months ago. I mean, they were like – he was like always full of energy. He’s always full of energy and he’s a respectable young man as well. He was always engaged in sports and always on go when it comes to like competition or – he always engaged in sports in the community.”
Raheem Casimiro
“This is a nightclub and people leave from here intoxicated and everything soh wi need a speed bump right here.”
According to the chairman, the area where the accident happened is known for speeding. He hopes that authorities will place speed bumps there to avoid a repeat of this tragedy.
Macario Augustine
“We did request some bumps within the village, but we’re still waiting. And I think, I mean, it’s time for us to install those bumps in these areas, particularly in this area, which is in – we have businesses here, gas stations. So I mean, this is very needed of bumps in this area.”
Raheem Casimiro says that Amaad was a passenger on the motorcycle.
Raheem Casimiro
“The driver that was driving the vehicle was trying to overtake, same time the guys were turning on the motorbike into the night club. That was when the impact happened. When we done put Ahmad in the vehicle and rush him to the hospital that was when I walked back here and that was when I saw the other guy in the drain, lay out.”
Keegan Martinez, who drove the motorcycle, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to make a full recovery. Marion Ali for News Five.
There was a second fatality further south and the victim on Saturday morning was a woman from Santa Rosa Village who had just taken up residency when she found love in Maya Mopan Village. In this incident, the victim was also a passenger. The vehicle overturned several times, and she was flung to her death. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Melanie Cal had just moved from Santa Rosa to Maya Mopan Village a few weeks ago, when she reportedly found love. She was a passenger in a pickup truck with several others from Maya Mopan Village who were heading out of the community on Saturday morning. The vehicle never made it out to the highway, however, because it somehow flipped, killing Cal.
Reymundo Peck
Reymundo Peck, First Alcalde, Maya Mopan Village, Stann Creek
“Between the hour of eleven and twelve o’clock, I received a call from one of our drivers that was traveling towards Georgetown. They asked me to go and check that there was a fatal accident on the road close to Maya Mopan. And I hurried and made my way there. And when I reached there, of course there was a pickup truck on the road.”
Chairman of Maya Mopan, Reymundo Peck Told News Five that they rendered assistance to another passenger who had suffered a broken leg. Cal, however, was already apparently dead, he said.
Reymundo Peck
“When I made more checks then I find out that there was a body lying close to the vehicle yeah, and the family members there wanted to take the body that has passed away, but I told them that they couldn’t remove the body because for the police – so that’s the reason why they had to left the body except, the one that has a broken knee. They had to transport that [one] to the hospital.”
Peck said that the accident happened near the site of a previous mishap, and that it appears the driver simply lost control of the vehicle on the dirt road.
Reymundo Peck
“You can see where the vehicle wheel passed out of the road. And the vehicle went back on the track, but then I believe there’s where she lost control. Yeah. And flip. Yeah.”
Police are yet to share details of the accident. Marion Ali for News Five.
